3 to 5 lakh nomads left uncounted by Census 2010
By Jammu News Agency,
Srinagar: Demanding a special census of nomadic and shelter-less Gujjars and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir who are presently under seasonal migration along-with their livestock to upper reaches of northwestern Himalaya , a main organization of tribes of the state today expressed sharp resentment over exclusion of lakhs of migratory tribals during census process that ended recently in the state.
[Photo by ggpht.com]
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh sent through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation –a frontal body of Gujjars of state, stressed vigorously upon centre and state to jointly launch an exclusive programme to conduct a correct and special census of their lakhs of tribesmen under “Shelter less category” as they stand un-enumerated during the process of census.
Giving details about the letter, Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary of the Foundation said that we demanded a special census of around 3 to 5 Lakh nomadic and shelter less Gujjars and Bakerwals who are presently under migration through seven major routs towards upper reaches of Pir Panchal, Shavalik and Trikuta Hills of Himalaya who are been left out during the process of enumeration. He said Registrar General of India (RGI ) should hold exclusive mapping to list the movement of nomads in Himalayan region of J&K and provide a new column in registration forms of census by introducing “Nomadic Category” or “Shelter-less category” which will help the enumerators to accommodate a big chunk of tribal population during the process.
The letter reads that Registrar General of India (RGI) should make it possible for nomadic communities of Jammu and Kashmir to participate in this census as it will benefit the state in formulating a development programme for houseless and marginalized tribe.
The letter further reads, in 2010 census we are left out without count as in 2000, the census report left us un-enumerated, and lakhs of nomadic Gujjars who were on upper reaches at that point of time, in connection with annual migration, had not been reflected in the census report 2001 but this year we request Prime Ministers office to intervene and direct RGI to re-schedule the dates of census in Jammu and Kashmir or to hold a special survey of nomads.
The letter further said the house listing and housing Census and canvassing of household schedule of National Population Register (NPR) had left us and a big chunk of Gujjars presently in upper reaches are waiting for their enlistment in NPR and demanded that special and exclusive programme of holding census should be formulated at the earliest.
Dr. Rahi asked community member to co-operate with census officials and get them enumerated as ST community with Gojri as their mother tongue.